Central Michigan University Athletics
Football Announces 2021 Coaching Staff
3/19/2021 12:37:00 PM | Football
Mike Zordich and Alvin Slaughter join staff.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Central Michigan football coach Jim McElwain announced today the promotions of two assistant coaches and the addition of two others.
Tim Skipper is McElwain's assistant head coach/linebackers coach, Kevin Barbay will now serve as the program's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, and McElwain has added Michael Zordich as his defensive backs coach and Alvin Slaughter as his new wide receivers coach.
Previously, Skipper was the linebackers coach and Barbay held the title of assistant head coach/wide receivers coach. Barbay has been a member of McElwain's staff since McElwain was named to lead the program in 2019; Skipper joined the staff prior to the 2020 season.
Zordich, who was an All-American at Penn State in the early 1980s and played in the NFL for 12 seasons, served for the last six seasons as an assistant Michigan. Slaughter served as the wide receivers coach for the past five seasons at Northwestern (La.) State and before that was an assistant at LSU.
"Excited about the group we have been able to put together," McElwain said. "Skip and Kevin have done a tremendous job and very deserving of their promotions. Mike and Alvin bring great ideas and energy; they have come right in and been great fits. We have a great staff and looking forward to them working with our guys and helping us get better during spring practice."
Joining CMU as staff assistants are Danny Modelski, Eli Reinhart and MJ Oliver while Brandon Hintz, Charles Ross and Grant Yaklin have been added as student assistants.
Skipper led a linebacking until last season that included standout Troy Brown, a First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection. Skipper served under McElwain as an assistant at both Florida (2015-17) and at Colorado State (2012-14).
"Really excited about promoting Tim Skipper," McElwain said. "Skip has done a great job with our linebackers and he's been with me a long time. He really understands how to help our guys succeed on and off the field."
Like Skipper, Barbay has been a longtime assistant to McElwain and he takes the reins of an offense from the departed Charlie Frye, who is now with the Miami Dolphins. The Chippewa offense has been outstanding since McElwain's arrival, and in 2021 returns the explosive backfield duo of Kobe Lewis and Lew Nichols III, the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year, and a bevy of talented receivers led by Kalil Pimpleton.
Prior to coming to CMU, Barbay served during the 2018 season as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Stephen F. Austin. He served under McElwain as the director of player personnel at Colorado State in 2014 and as the director of player development at Florida from 2015-17. Barbey played quarterback at Grambling State where he helped the Tigers claim the 2002 Southwestern Athletic Conference title and a Black College national championship.
"Kevin's been a coordinator before and he's been in the system," McElwain said. "I think for our players it's been really good because the transition from what Charlie did is just carrying it forward."
Zordich joined coach Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan in 2015 and was an integral part of a defense that twice (2016-17) ranked first nationally against the pass during his six years on the staff. The Wolverines ranked second against the pass in 2018 and third in 2015. He coached three cornerbacks to All-America honors while at U-M and three times during his tenure was a Wolverine cornerback named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
As a player, Zordich helped Penn State to the 1982 national title and in '85 he captained the Nittany Lions to a final national ranking of No. 3. He played safety in the NFL from 1987-98 for the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles, and then broke into coaching at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio.
He returned to the NFL as a coach in 2009 with the Eagles and then became the safeties coach/co-special teams coordinator at Youngstown State in 2014 before moving on to Ann Arbor in 2015.
"Mike Zordich brings NFL experience as a player as well as experience as a coach in the National Football League," said McElwain, who served alongside Zordich as an assistant at U-M. "I think it's really good for that group of guys getting someone of his caliber to come here and be part of the Chippewa program."
At Northwestern State, Slaughter mentored a group of receivers that included All-American Quan Shorts and set a program record for passing yardage in 2018 and again in 2019. Slaughter had a hand in developing three All-Americans during his tenure with the Demons, including kick returner Myles Ward.
Slaughter has completed NFL internships with the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns and began his coaching career as the wide receivers/tight ends coach at Clarion in 1999 before moving on to Monsignor Pace High School in Miami. At Monsignor Pace, he served as an assistant for four seasons and then as the head coach for five. He helped lead the Spartans to a state title in 2003.
His relationship with McElwain also goes back several years.
"I first met Alvin when he was the coach at Monsignor Pace and was impressed by him," McElwain said. "His energy has been fantastic, and our players have really embraced him."
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Tim Skipper is McElwain's assistant head coach/linebackers coach, Kevin Barbay will now serve as the program's offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, and McElwain has added Michael Zordich as his defensive backs coach and Alvin Slaughter as his new wide receivers coach.
Previously, Skipper was the linebackers coach and Barbay held the title of assistant head coach/wide receivers coach. Barbay has been a member of McElwain's staff since McElwain was named to lead the program in 2019; Skipper joined the staff prior to the 2020 season.
Zordich, who was an All-American at Penn State in the early 1980s and played in the NFL for 12 seasons, served for the last six seasons as an assistant Michigan. Slaughter served as the wide receivers coach for the past five seasons at Northwestern (La.) State and before that was an assistant at LSU.
"Excited about the group we have been able to put together," McElwain said. "Skip and Kevin have done a tremendous job and very deserving of their promotions. Mike and Alvin bring great ideas and energy; they have come right in and been great fits. We have a great staff and looking forward to them working with our guys and helping us get better during spring practice."
Joining CMU as staff assistants are Danny Modelski, Eli Reinhart and MJ Oliver while Brandon Hintz, Charles Ross and Grant Yaklin have been added as student assistants.
Skipper led a linebacking until last season that included standout Troy Brown, a First Team All-Mid-American Conference selection. Skipper served under McElwain as an assistant at both Florida (2015-17) and at Colorado State (2012-14).
"Really excited about promoting Tim Skipper," McElwain said. "Skip has done a great job with our linebackers and he's been with me a long time. He really understands how to help our guys succeed on and off the field."
Like Skipper, Barbay has been a longtime assistant to McElwain and he takes the reins of an offense from the departed Charlie Frye, who is now with the Miami Dolphins. The Chippewa offense has been outstanding since McElwain's arrival, and in 2021 returns the explosive backfield duo of Kobe Lewis and Lew Nichols III, the reigning MAC Freshman of the Year, and a bevy of talented receivers led by Kalil Pimpleton.
Prior to coming to CMU, Barbay served during the 2018 season as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Stephen F. Austin. He served under McElwain as the director of player personnel at Colorado State in 2014 and as the director of player development at Florida from 2015-17. Barbey played quarterback at Grambling State where he helped the Tigers claim the 2002 Southwestern Athletic Conference title and a Black College national championship.
"Kevin's been a coordinator before and he's been in the system," McElwain said. "I think for our players it's been really good because the transition from what Charlie did is just carrying it forward."
Zordich joined coach Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan in 2015 and was an integral part of a defense that twice (2016-17) ranked first nationally against the pass during his six years on the staff. The Wolverines ranked second against the pass in 2018 and third in 2015. He coached three cornerbacks to All-America honors while at U-M and three times during his tenure was a Wolverine cornerback named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
As a player, Zordich helped Penn State to the 1982 national title and in '85 he captained the Nittany Lions to a final national ranking of No. 3. He played safety in the NFL from 1987-98 for the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles, and then broke into coaching at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio.
He returned to the NFL as a coach in 2009 with the Eagles and then became the safeties coach/co-special teams coordinator at Youngstown State in 2014 before moving on to Ann Arbor in 2015.
"Mike Zordich brings NFL experience as a player as well as experience as a coach in the National Football League," said McElwain, who served alongside Zordich as an assistant at U-M. "I think it's really good for that group of guys getting someone of his caliber to come here and be part of the Chippewa program."
At Northwestern State, Slaughter mentored a group of receivers that included All-American Quan Shorts and set a program record for passing yardage in 2018 and again in 2019. Slaughter had a hand in developing three All-Americans during his tenure with the Demons, including kick returner Myles Ward.
Slaughter has completed NFL internships with the Atlanta Falcons and Cleveland Browns and began his coaching career as the wide receivers/tight ends coach at Clarion in 1999 before moving on to Monsignor Pace High School in Miami. At Monsignor Pace, he served as an assistant for four seasons and then as the head coach for five. He helped lead the Spartans to a state title in 2003.
His relationship with McElwain also goes back several years.
"I first met Alvin when he was the coach at Monsignor Pace and was impressed by him," McElwain said. "His energy has been fantastic, and our players have really embraced him."
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